Venice Main Street Inc.

Today downtown Venice owes much of it’s success to Venice Main Street Inc. and the National Trust For Historic Preservation’s Main Street Program.

In 1980 the National Trust For Historic Preservation established the Main Street Program to help revitalize downtown's all across America and address the issues faced by downtown's in the age of suburban sprawl.

Many downtown's today are struggling, so it is great to see a real success like this. A downtown that is a very healthy mix of largely locally owned retail, restaurants, service providers, and more.

There is a trend toward new urban development that helps recreate the feeling of main streets of old, that is great and much needed. However NOT if a towns original main street isn’t working well, OR if the new development is largely chain stores and franchises.

One reason I feel downtown Venice works so well is that it is largely unique, locally owned businesses.

A traditional downtown with it’s mix of retail, restaurants, offices, services, government, and residential is not only more environmentally friendly than suburban sprawl, it has a greater sense of place than any mall.

Simply put a good downtown like Venice FL is a nice, enjoyable place to be.

Venice Main Street Inc. has brought great enhancements to the downtown area including a very popular interactive water fountain, street directory maps, banners, and Christmas decorations. The restoration of the historic train depot and funding for a statue to famed Ringling Bros. Barnum & Bailey Circus animal trainer (and local resident) Gunter Gables Williams is also largely thanks to the Main Street organization and it’s volunteers.

From Fall into Spring the downtown streets come alive with music, store specials, and activities for the Third Thursday Strolls. There are free concerts at the gazebo in Centennial Park most every Friday night and Saturday markets with fresh produce, crafts and more on of course Saturdays throughout the year.

These and major events including art festivals and of course Christmas are thanks to Venice Main Street. A full listing of events and other information is provided on their website.